Civil service job application- personal statement

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I wonder if any lovely Mumsnetters could help? My mind has gone totally blank and I'm struggling ! I have to write 500 words and "Provide an example of when you have had to prioritise conflicting tasks within a set time frame . I'm normally on the ball with writing competencies , however for whatever reason I've hit a mental block with this !!

I should add it's a HEO role .

Have you thought of anything yet?
What roles have you worked in before?
I'm assuming you've read through the CS Success Profiles for guidance on what to put in the statement?

@ArseWipesLemonade yes I've had a brain storm and managed a brief example , which I'm working on at the moment . I think the 500 words on one example through me to be honest .

*threw me even !!

Hello OP, when I have to answer this one, I think about when I've had multiple things to deliver at the same time, and how I prioritised these. What was most urgent, how did I divide up work into tasks, how did I delegate stuff to others. It's probably less about showing that you did loads of overtime, as a lot of people think (guessing this is for delivering at pace or similar?) and more about showing that you could sensibly prioritise the most important work and drop other stuff or negotiate new deadlines.

Also, if you negotiated a new deadline or had to 'manage expectations' around delivering a project by a certain time or to a certain specification, that ticks boxes for other competencies.

Good luck !!

@Cocorico22 Thank you so much for your advice it's really helped me break it down and formulate a good answer .

Hi OP, I am not sure if you are still considering your answer. I review applications and conduct interviews for SEO/HEO level and some grade 7. What I look for in this area is something that demonstrates critical thinking. Not simple prioritised, but how you prioritise, especially how you consider the impact on others. Most urgent is not always the best answer. A clear understanding of how tasks can impact on other's work is key in combination with flexibility, review and delegation. Hope this helps. Good luck!